Hampshire County

Hampshire County, West Virginia — key demographics (latest available)

Population size

• 23,709 (2020 Census)
• ~23.6k (2023 Census Population Estimates)

Age

• Median age: ~46.8 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender (sex)

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023; race alone unless noted)

• White: ~94–95%
• Black or African American: ~2–3%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%
• Asian: ~0.2–0.3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2–0.3%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~9.6–9.9k
• Persons per household: ~2.4
• Family households: ~65–66% of households
• Married-couple households: ~50% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~25–28%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80–83%
• Housing units: ~12–13.5k

Key insights

• Older age profile (median age mid‑40s) with about one in five residents 65+
• Predominantly White population with small but present Black, multiracial, and Hispanic communities
• Small household size and high homeownership consistent with rural West Virginia counties

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5‑year estimates; Population Estimates Program (2023).

Hampshire County, WV — email usage snapshot

• Population and density: ≈23,700 residents across ≈640 sq mi (≈37 per sq mi), highly rural.
• Estimated email users: ≈16,700 residents (≈86% of adults; ≈70% of total population).
• Age distribution of email users (users; adoption rate):
  • 18–34: ≈4,050 (95%)
  • 35–54: ≈5,670 (92%)
  • 55–64: ≈3,020 (85%)
  • 65+: ≈3,930 (72%)
• Gender split: ≈51% female (≈8,500 users) vs ≈49% male (≈8,200 users); email adoption is essentially equal by gender.
• Digital access and trends: About 80% of households subscribe to broadband. Fixed 100/20 Mbps service reaches roughly the mid–high 80% of locations, with unserved pockets in sparsely populated ridges and hollows. Mobile 4G LTE covers major roads and towns; 5G is emerging but limited outside Romney. Rural density and terrain constrain fiber buildout, so email remains a primary channel for commerce, healthcare, and schools. Smartphone-only internet reliance is rising into the low-teens percentage, reinforcing heavy use of mobile email.
• Insight: Email penetration closely tracks national patterns among working-age adults, but an older population profile and patchy fixed broadband slightly depress usage among seniors; continued buildout along corridors is likely to lift overall adoption.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Hampshire County, West Virginia (2024–2025)

Headline user estimates

• Residents: ~23,000; adults (18+): ~17,700
• Mobile phone users (any mobile, feature or smart): ~16,000–16,500 adults (about 90–93% of adults)
• Smartphone users: ~13,500–14,200 adults (about 76–80% of adults)
• Mobile-only internet households (home internet primarily via cellular data plan): ~1,300–1,600 households (roughly 13–16% of households)
• Wireless-only voice households (no landline): ~60–68% of households

How Hampshire County differs from the West Virginia statewide pattern

• Smartphone adoption is lower: roughly 2–4 percentage points below the statewide adult smartphone rate (WV ~80–84%; Hampshire ~76–80%)
• More home internet reliance on cellular: about 3–6 points higher than the statewide share using cellular as primary home internet (state ~9–12%; Hampshire ~13–16%)
• Higher prepaid mix: prepaid plans account for an estimated 40–50% of local smartphone lines, versus roughly one-third statewide
• 5G availability is patchier: population 5G coverage is estimated 55–65% in Hampshire vs 75–85% statewide; large rural pockets remain LTE-only
• Lower median mobile speeds: typical median download 25–45 Mbps (LTE/low-band 5G) in Hampshire versus 60–100+ Mbps in the state’s metro corridors
• Older device base and longer upgrade cycles: replacement intervals trend 6–12 months longer than the state average, contributing to lower 5G uptake

Demographic breakdown of usage

• Age
  • 18–34: very high smartphone adoption (~90–95%); heavy app/social/video use; limited fixed broadband in rentals drives hotspot use
  • 35–64: solid smartphone adoption (~80–85%); BYOD for work common among commuters to VA/MD; family data plans dominant
  • 65+: lagging but growing adoption (~50–60%); higher use of large-screen devices and basic plans; more voice/SMS reliance than state peers
• Income and plan type
  • Lower-median incomes and credit constraints raise prepaid share and multi-line discount uptake; ACP wind-down has shifted some households from fixed broadband to cellular-only service
• Geography
  • Town centers (Romney, Capon Bridge, Augusta): higher 5G availability and faster median speeds
  • Ridges/valleys and low-density roads (e.g., stretches off US-50, WV-29): more dead zones, LTE-only, and uplink limitations
• Work and travel
  • Significant out-commuting toward the Winchester, VA area increases weekday daytime load on eastern corridors; evening peaks shift back toward residential clusters in-town and along US-50

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Radio access
  • Verizon generally provides the broadest rural coverage footprint; AT&T is competitive along US-50 and town sites; T-Mobile coverage has expanded along primary corridors but remains thinner off-corridor
  • 5G is predominantly low-band outside town centers; mid-band 5G (C-band/n77, n41) appears in/near Romney and Capon Bridge but is sparse elsewhere
• Capacity and backhaul
  • Several macro sites rely on microwave backhaul, limiting peak and uplink throughput versus fiber-fed sites
  • Capacity constraints are most visible during evening streaming peaks and weekend recreation traffic; bufferbloat and uplink saturation are common on LTE in valley pockets
• Fixed broadband interplay
  • Limited cable/fiber availability in many unincorporated areas drives higher-than-average cellular substitution for home internet
  • Where fiber/cable is available in-town, mobile usage shifts toward offloading to Wi‑Fi; outside those areas, data consumption remains cellular-first
• Emergency and resiliency
  • E-911 coverage is broadly supported, but terrain-induced shadow zones persist; power-backup on some rural sites is shorter than one full day, making extended outages impactful for mobile-only households

Implications and actionable insights

• Network planning: Additional mid-band 5G sectors and fiber backhaul on US-50 and secondary corridors would materially raise median speeds and reliability; targeted small cells in Romney and school/healthcare hubs would offload peak traffic
• Affordability and adoption: Senior-focused device financing and simplified prepaid bundles can lift adoption among 65+; hotspot-capable plans help bridge fixed-broadband gaps for students and remote workers
• Coverage mitigation: Signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling education reduce drop zones for residents in valleys; public venues (libraries, community centers) remain important for offload and digital equity

Notes on methodology

• Estimates synthesize the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year computer and internet indicators), CDC National Health Interview Survey wireless substitution trends, FCC Broadband Data Collection mobile availability, and carrier-reported coverage maps as of 2024–2025. Figures are rounded and presented as conservative county-level estimates aligned to Hampshire County’s age, income, and rural profile.

Hampshire County, WV social media snapshot (2025)

What these numbers represent

• County-level, model-based estimates derived from the county’s rural profile and age structure (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023) applied to Pew Research Center’s 2024 platform-usage benchmarks and rural vs. urban differentials. Figures are adult (18+) shares unless noted.

Overall usage

• Adults using at least one social platform: 66–70%
• Daily users among social users: ~70% engage daily on at least one platform (heaviest daily use: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok)

Most-used platforms (share of adults)

• YouTube: 78–82%
• Facebook: 62–68%
• Instagram: 33–40%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (skews female)
• TikTok: 25–30%
• Snapchat: 25–28%
• LinkedIn: 15–20% (notably lower in rural counties)
• X (Twitter): 18–22%
• Reddit: 15–18% (skews male)
• WhatsApp: 15–20%
• Nextdoor: 10–15%

Age-group usage and tendencies

• 18–29
  • Any social: 93–97%
  • Top platforms: YouTube ~95%, Instagram ~75–80%, Snapchat ~70–75%, TikTok ~65–70%, Facebook ~50–60%
  • Behavior: Heavy Stories/Reels/Snaps; DMs over public posts; creator/streaming followership high
• 30–49
  • Any social: 85–90%
  • Top platforms: YouTube ~90%, Facebook ~70–78%, Instagram ~50–58%, TikTok ~35–45%, Snapchat ~30–38%
  • Behavior: Local info, parenting/school updates, Marketplace buying/selling, short‑form video for how‑tos and product discovery
• 50–64
  • Any social: 70–75%
  • Top platforms: Facebook ~65–72%, YouTube ~78–82%, Pinterest (esp. women) ~35–45%, Instagram ~25–35%, TikTok ~18–25%
  • Behavior: Community groups, health/DIY content, local news; shares over original posts
• 65+
  • Any social: 45–55%
  • Top platforms: Facebook ~50–55%, YouTube ~60–65%, Pinterest (women) ~20–28%, Nextdoor ~12–15%
  • Behavior: One‑to‑few platforms; high engagement with civic, church, school, and public‑safety updates

Gender breakdown (selected platforms, share of adults)

• Facebook: Women ~66–72%, Men ~60–66% (women slightly higher)
• YouTube: Women ~75–80%, Men ~80–85% (men slightly higher)
• Instagram: Women ~36–42%, Men ~30–36%
• Pinterest: Women ~45–50%, Men ~15–20% (largest gender gap)
• TikTok: Women ~28–33%, Men ~22–27%
• Snapchat: Women ~26–30%, Men ~23–27%
• Reddit: Women ~10–13%, Men ~18–22%
• X (Twitter): Women ~16–20%, Men ~20–24%
• LinkedIn: Women ~14–18%, Men ~16–20%

Behavioral trends observed in rural WV counties like Hampshire

• Facebook as the community hub: Local government, schools, churches, volunteer fire/EMS, and event organizers rely on Pages and Groups; Marketplace is a primary local commerce channel
• Short‑form video rise: Reels/Shorts/TikTok increasingly used by local businesses, outdoor/recreation, repair trades, and real‑estate to demonstrate offerings
• Private sharing > public posting: DMs, Messenger group chats, and Snapchat groups preferred for coordination (youth sports, church groups, community events)
• News and alerts: County/school closings, road conditions, weather alerts, and fundraiser updates drive spikes in Facebook engagement
• Time-of-day engagement: Peaks before work (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekend midday spikes tied to events and yard/estate sales
• Discovery pathways: Word‑of‑mouth amplified by Facebook Groups; YouTube used for DIY, hunting/fishing/outdoor content, auto and home repair; Pinterest for recipes, crafts, and seasonal projects
• Adoption constraints: Lower LinkedIn/X penetration reflects occupational mix and weaker professional-networking demand; bandwidth variability outside towns dampens live streaming and long-form video

Notes and sources

• Method: County demographic profile (ACS 5‑year estimates) + Pew Research Center “Social Media Use in 2024” age/gender/platform rates, adjusted for rural usage patterns to yield local shares
• Key sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2019–2023), Pew Research Center (2024) Social Media Use, and Pew rural/urban adoption differentials